80% of Brits don’t use protection with new partners this Christmas
### Strictly Embargoed Until 00:01 on 04/02/2022 ### *** FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE *** Shelly and Oliver Ward try the foods available in the new ‘Mood Food’ aisle at Iceland, which has been launched ahead of Valentine’s Day and features the top ten foods that have been voted by Brits most likely to get them in the mood for love, which include ice cream, pizza and roast dinner. The aisle has been created following research by Iceland, which revealed that 6 in 10 people find traditional aphrodisiacs such as oysters are in fact a turn off for them, with 8 in 10 saying that comfort foods are more likely to affect their romantic feelings.
As the festive season kicks into high gear, a study by Superdrug Online Doctor reveals a concerning lack of awareness about sexual health among Brits. Despite a sharp rise in STI cases during the holidays, 80% of the population vastly underestimates the scale of the problem. Many believe there are between 100,000 and 200,000 new STI diagnoses annually, but the true number is more than double that, with over 400,000 new cases each year.
The survey, which polled 2,000 single people across the UK, uncovered troubling trends in STI prevention, testing, and risk awareness. A significant two in five respondents from Manchester have never been tested for gonorrhoea, while similar numbers are neglecting tests for other common infections such as Chlamydia (38%) and HPV (41%).
Interestingly, women are leading the way in testing frequency, undergoing an average of three more tests per year than men.
With Christmas parties, dates, and holiday get-togethers in full swing, the festive season presents the perfect opportunity to prioritise sexual health. Experts urge Brits to take proactive steps to get tested and stay informed, ensuring a safer and healthier holiday season.
Manchester, Brighton and London revealed as the nation’s STI hotspots
As part of the study, internal experts analysed government data to reveal where has the highest rates of STIs per 100,000 people.
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Manchester ranks as the riskiest city with the highest rates of STI’s (1,647), two times higher than the UK average of 771 cases per 100,000 people. This is followed by Brighton (1,610), London (1,448) and Liverpool (1,355). The majority of locations in the top 20 are seeing no significant changes to the number of annual diagnoses, apart from Liverpool and Nottingham who are both experiencing steady increases in rates.
Worcestershire (305 cases per 100,000), Wiltshire (311 cases per 100,000) and Dudley (314 cases per 100,000) are the locations with the lowest rates of STIs.
Why are Brits not using protection?
While many may not be prioritising testing, the question remains: are they staying protected during sexual encounters? The survey found that only 20% of respondents always use protection when having sex with someone for the first time. For the other 80%, it seems “the heat of the moment” (34%) and trusting their partners are STI-free (30%) are to blame.
